.Case studies

During the first two years of the project the eLene2learn network collected more than 60 case studies, where teachers and students of Secondary and Higher Education provide practical tips and indications on their "first hand" learning experiences using ICT and digital media. This "collection" contains two different types of report:

The "How to guide" scenarios describe current practices, tools and methodologies used in the application of ICT to develop learning to learn competencies. The scenarios were collected through Focus Group with students and teachers; Download the printable version of the "How to guide"

The Case studies report, in detail the implementation of practices, methodologies and tools used within real classroom settings. Recommendations and suggestions help you assess the benefit of replicating these practices, methodologies, etc. in your own context. These resources are highly valuable as they come from a direct evaluation by students and teachers involved. Some of these resources are (also) partly available in Italian, French, Greek, Finnish, Polish, Spanish and German. If the translations are available, you can find the translations directly on the sub-pages of each case study. (The most recent Case Studies are listed first on the top); Download the printable version of the Implementation Report.

You can browse the case studies here by Benefits and Tags. The two different type of report can be easily filtered using corresponding tags.

For restoring your filters to the default (blank) settings, just click on the pink button "CLEAR".

.AimTo support learning activities, to facilitate communication in learning situation, to allow the exploration of a field of knowledge, a better transition between high school culture and academic culture, to use different media (text, video, film, references ...),to provide a stimulating and interactive teaching, to strengthen the sense of commitment to a group of learners and develop communication between studentsto reduce the symbolic distance between teacher and students (closer to the technological culture)

.Objectives• To provide an extended support for learning• To provide the opportunity to explore a research perspective• To develop referencing skills• To provide the opportunity to reflect in class by avoiding excessive taking notes in class• To provide an effective on-line community• To build self-confidence• To develop critical thinking• To develop a sense of community between peers.• To encourage learning to learn by providing additional activities• To develop commitment vis-à-vis the group and class

.Proposed activitiesTo introduce five different and complementary activities to students (Bachelor's degree) .These five activities will be supported through the use of my blog:

1) access to course content with its references2) access to additional sources to explore an area of academic knowledge3) comment on the sources and documents4) to develop academic referencing skills5) to develop collaborative work with other students

.Pedagogical approach takenEach course begins with a discussion on the content of the blogStudents ask questions and comment the blog (last post)I try to propose a collaborative work between the groups using the blogThe feed-back of students help improve the blogThe idea is to feel the blog as a common place (community) and to develop a sense of belonging to this spaceAll students must go to the blog to find information on my courses, references, photos, videos and documents

.Methods of evaluation collective and individual interviews will be conducted ethnographic among students at the end of the year An analysis of the activities actually carried out on the blog will be made at the end of the year. I realize a research journal noting daily observations The working group on critical reflection on the use of the blog / blog evaluation

.Ethical statementEach session, We talk about the use of my blog and their wishes and critics.They also write me (private message) to ask questions or request additional information. With their agreement, I answer questions on my blog.

They can add anonymous comments

Evaluation of the outcomes and impact for learners (summaries of feedback)(with particular attention paid to the initial aims and objectives of the implementation plan and the key competencies developed)

.Summary of student feedback - Usage (max 200 words)According to statistics of my blog, each student is connected at least 1 time per week on the blog (average 4)The students used the blog regularlySimilarly, those who were missing use the blog to update and participate in learning activities.For them, blog is an interactive learning toolThe blog allows them to have permanent access to contentAdults (over 35 years) are more difficult to use the blog. For them it is an unusual tool. Some prefer "paper document" or a book instead of PDF or Word documents.They asked to update my Blog after each courseAccess to the teaching text (content of my courses) or additional documents are the most popular.Collaborative work (preparing a collective homework) is a little less used.Distance learning has become easierSome asked a more interactive blog and more activities (forums, videos ...)

.Summary of student feedback - Benefits (max 200 words)Students often appreciate the complementary learning achieved through the blog"openness to students" and "freedom in learning", "clear goals", "clear standards", "clear assessment procedures""more communication between teachers and students", "The learning time is extended out of classroom", "I could choose things to learn and have more freedom in their learning","I could often follow up interesting information and theories mentioned in BlogI had to always concentrate on trying to get a really full set of notes in lectures, The blog allows me to listen more and speak in class because the content is on the blog.I can organize better my learning time and activitiesThe Blog offers another type of communication more interesting and easierThe blog gives me an overview of education and a broader view of knowledgeThe blog offers greater freedom of learning, the student feels better at the university compared to high schoolThe blog gives us more confidence to learn and understand why we learn at universityWith the blog, I feel less pressure on me. I feel sometimes that the teacher is available all the time.

.Summary of student feedback - Supporting transition (max 200 words)Two types of transitions are identified: the first transition for adult students who return to study. These students often come directly after a work experience in the third year of university. They are often weakened by their situation and need special support to learn and do their homework. In the class, I asked the younger working with these students and I try to spend more time with them. I show them how they can improve their learning using the blog.The teacher must accompany the students to the use of an ICT tool so that it becomes a "normal", everyday practice. The teacher should discuss with them regularly to understand their "technical difficulties" and "psychological" and "symbolic" barriers. It takes a "human" mediation to familiarize adults with ICT.The second transition is about the students that have followed a short training (2 years) and continue their studies at university. This group of students that come more and more to university is often not familiar with academic learning. For these students, often in difficulties, the blog is an important aid to better learn and understand the academic rules

.Summary of student feedback - Challenges or barriers (max 200 words)It should systematically encourage more "fragile" students to go and visit the blog.The most active students go regularly on the blog, but most "fragile" (adults, weak students, some foreign students, students came from short vocational training to University ...) are most marginalized and tend to use less Internet tools & technology).There is also a minority that is ideologically pessimistic about the use of new technologies. In their value system, they sometimes refuse too much technology, especially in education.Some (a small minority) told me: "the use of Internet in education is a regression, new technology kills human relationship ...The teacher should always discuss these pessimistic students because they risk being marginalized

.Summary of student feedback - Improvements that can be made to the activity or the application (max 200 words)Give greater importance to students (taking into account their views, their needs)Improve the quality of presentationMake a regular Evaluation with studentsIncrease collaborative homework andTry to add more interactive tools

.Summary of tutor observation - Usage (max 200 words)they can work on their course everywhere even in bus, or trainSome of them consult 5-6 times a week the blog, il takes a lot of time (for teacher), I have to go on my blog all the timeSome "shy" Students asked their questions directly on blog and become more activeWith the blog, they focus more on the content of courseThe courses are more interactive and student participation increases significantlyStudents ask more questions to better understand the concepts and theoriesStudents are more active and interactive in class.As a teacher, I felt closer to my studentsThe learning and teaching time was not limited to classroom courses.It means that the academic environments provided by teacher have direct effects on students' approaches to studying

.Summary of tutor observation - Benefits (max 200 words)The blog facilitates their access to informationThe blog allows them to explore an area of knowledgeThe blog broadens their visionthe course is more interactivewith different sources (videos, texts, sound) learning becomes more attractiveThey change the way of learningThey develop their sense of self confidencefind all the content in the blogI observed a gradual change in students' approaches to learning and studying , The resources offered by the blog tend to help deep approach in learningBlog experience shows that the academic environment may be expected to interact with the individual characteristics

.Summary of tutor feedback - Supporting transition (max 200 words)The transition does not have the same meaning in each student group.For adult students, the transition is a little more complex. They sometimes tend to resist to abandon their culture and to experiment a different way of learning.There is also a real resistance to change and vis-à-vis the technological culture. They tend to underestimate the importance of ICT in university learning and inclusion at the University.Mediation of the teacher is essential to reduce the cultural gap that experience these students.This requires an ongoing dialogue with these students. The effective use of a teaching tool involves a reciprocity of perspectives between the learner and the teacher.The blog should not become an object of segregation between students who use ICT easily and fluently and those who are reluctant and not in favor of this cultural transformation.The transition of students who have already done a short training (2 years) and who enroll in university to continue their studies is less problematic. They do not often refuse ICT. For them, the blog is an excellent way to reduce the gap with the academic culture and learn to learn differently. The main challenge for these students is to decode the academic learning and develop a positive attitude and a self-confidence.

.Summary of tutor observation - Challenges or barriers (max 200 words)The transition does not have the same meaning in each student group.For adult students, the transition is a little more complex. They sometimes tend to resist to abandon their culture and to experiment a different way of learning.There is also a real resistance to change and vis-à-vis the technological culture. They tend to underestimate the importance of ICT in university learning and inclusion at the University.Mediation of the teacher is essential to reduce the cultural gap that experience these students.This requires an ongoing dialogue with these students. The effective use of a teaching tool involves a reciprocity of perspectives between the learner and the teacher.The blog should not become an object of segregation between students who use ICT easily and fluently and those who are reluctant and not in favor of this cultural transformation.The transition of students who have already done a short training (2 years) and who enroll in university to continue their studies is less problematic. They do not often refuse ICT. For them, the blog is an excellent way to reduce the gap with the academic culture and learn to learn differently. The main challenge for these students is to decode the academic learning and develop a positive attitude and a self-confidence.

Acceptance by all students the idea of this blog and its educational value,. Many believe that the Internet is useful for access to information and communication. But sometimes they do not believe in the pedagogical and educational use in a course, this barrier is psychologicalAdults students (+35 years old) resistant to the use of Internet. They are not sometimes very open to learning activities on the internet. They prefer a traditional approach, a teacher who provides knowledge directly through a speech.To run a blog, it must develop and maintain a pedagogical scenario and a style of teaching. Combining distance learning and classroom teaching is not always easy. The teacher should consider the interactions and complementaritiesWith the blog and Internet activities, students become more demanding, The teacher must devote more time to teaching and communicate with studentsUse a technology tool in a normal course increases substantially the time teaching job.

.Summary of tutor observation - Improvements that can be made to the activity or the application (max 200 words)Try adding more interactive tools and activitiesReflect on a more active role of students. They should become more involved in this activityUpdate the blog more regularly

Reflection and recommendations regarding the activity and approach used by the teacher, tutor or trainer

.What worked well? (max 250 words)The activities and the documentsAll the students use the blog (average for 12 weeks, 50 visits per person or visits per person and per week), in fact, the blog has become accepted and shared activity and a true educational toolThe blog has become a tool for learning and participation, but there is an active group and a passive group (minority)Students are often very interested in the activities proposed by the blog. For them, the blog facilitates their workThere is more dialogue (direct classroom / indirect distance blog) between the student and the teacherStudents tend to develop an open and comprehensive approach to learning.The collaborative work between students working more or less. They can contact outside of class

.What would be done differently? (max 250 words)I should do a collective assessment (with students) of the actionDo not put too many documents, students will sometimes feel "invaded" by the blogIn the blog, it lacks an interactive and open space for students to dialogue (forum)To offer Regularly activities to keep the interest of the blog and develop generic skills such as self-regulation and self-learningTo offer more collaborative activities among students to achieve the educational objectives

.Recommendations for other practitioners who may consider using this approach (max 250 words)We should discuss each week with students to understand their use and needsThe teacher must regularly update the content of the blog, this is the way to maintain the interest of the group and turn the blog into a shared teaching toolWe should not think that students have an infinite time to stay on the blog, we must choose the most interesting documents and show them how to explore elsewhereAll students are not interested in the blog (or similar activity) in the same way. Some students are active and participate in activities. There is also a passive group (for different reasons). The teacher should avoid marginalizing passive students. The passive group is composed of students 'fragile', (adults, weak students, some foreign students ...)